I think my Adenium are my favourite plants. They are just so interesting and all around fun. It's been about a year since I sowed the seeds and they're still going strong. I've noticed they seem to put up with a lot of abuse. They are relatively resistant to insects but I have had some aphid problems. I ended up spraying with a garlic/onion solution and the pests have for the most part disappeared.
It's much cooler in Vancouver in the summer than in London, Ontario. Even though there has been a tonne of sunshine (over a month straight) the growth rate seems to be a bit slower probably due to the lower temperatures.
One plant has also produced a plethora (what a great word) of blooms at the tip of the stem. I've been waiting weeks but none of them have opened yet. As soon as the one below pops I'll be sure to grab a picture.
I also LOVE all the different forms that this batch of seeds have grown into. Some are short and stout, some have a highly developed caudex and others are relatively tall and narrow. All are beginning to develop a large number of side branches. After growing these plants for a year, I would highly recommend them to anyone that enjoys succulents with somewhat unusual forms.
Onion and garlic, huh? I'll bet they're delicious.
ReplyDelete@mr_subjunctive, You've gotta baste them with something! It's like aphid barbecue sauce. ;)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely something I need to try. Maybe they would be worthwile on my parent's balcony where they would get watered rarely.
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous!!! I agree with you on how they are each coming out individually different from each other...very fun to watch!!
ReplyDelete@Rainforest Gardener, good for when they're older. They like water when young though so it's good that you'd probably start them at your place. You should try obesum and arabicum and compare.
ReplyDelete@Julie, isn't it fun? I want to train some into bonsai, over rocks and odd things.
They do look like good subjects for bonsai. I can see a couple of them in a pot with a tiny hammock stretched between them. A little figure is reclining and sipping one of those tropical drinks with an umbrella in it.
ReplyDeleteWe grow them down south and have luck, but I still bring them into the greenhouse in late November until early March
ReplyDelete@walk2write, A fun little bonsai scene eh? I'd love to train them over rocks.
ReplyDelete@compost in my shoe, sounds like a good precaution. Besides, why slow growth if you don't have to?
I have two adenium arabicum that I love, started from Thai seeds two years ago. I move them outside in the summer where they seem to thrive in the hot, humid Maryland climate. Some of the lower leaves on the plants get dead, brown tips-any idea why this happens?
ReplyDeleteMine love it outside in the summer too. It may be possible that they need more water. Mine dry out extremely quickly and I have to water every day throughout the summer.
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